384: What Managers Get Wrong About ADHD at Work (and How to Get It Right) with Rita Ramakrishnan
The Modern ManagerShow Notes
Managers play a crucial role in shaping how employees experience work. But when ADHD enters the mix, good intentions can backfire if not handled thoughtfully. With the right mindset and tools, you can create a space where everyone performs at their best.
Fortunately, this week’s guest brings both personal and professional expertise to this conversation.
Rita Ramakrishnan is an executive leadership coach and consultant who helps neurodivergent professionals and their teams amplify their strengths and work more naturally. Her work focuses on neurodivergent leadership success, helping individuals and organizations embrace differences as a pathway to thriving.
In this episode, Rita and I explore what ADHD looks like in adults, why it’s often misunderstood, and how managers can support themselves and their teams through empathy, structure, and flexible systems. You’ll learn strategies for managing focus, energy, and motivation, plus how to build habits that sustain success over time.
In the extended episode, Rita shares how to approach conversations about ADHD respectfully, even when a team member hasn’t disclosed, and how to foster a collaborative, psychologically safe culture that supports everyone’s best work.
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Conversation Topics (00:00) Introduction: Why ADHD awareness matters for managers (01:02) Meet today’s guest: Rita Ramakrishnan (03:04) How ADHD shows up in adults, and why many go undiagnosed (06:16) The connection between neurodiversity, performance, and burnout (09:28) Building psychological safety for employees with ADHD (12:47) Shifting from fixing people to redesigning work (17:11) The right way to talk about ADHD (and what not to say) (22:08) Supporting focus, follow-through, and accountability on your team (25:11) Managing ADHD Team Members (30:22) [Extended Episode Only] Raising sensitive topics with empathy and care (33:35) [Extended Episode Only] Redesigning roles and work for energy and well-being
📚 Additional Resources:
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- Read the full transcript here
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Keep up with Rita Ramakrishnan - Follow Rita on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaram - Visit Iksana here: https://www.iksana.com
Guest Bonus: 20% Off Coaching Services
Rita is offering members of Podcast+ 20% off her coaching services. She provides executive and team coaching specifically designed for neurodivergent leaders and the teams who work with them, helping executives leverage their cognitive differences as strategic advantages while creating psychologically safe, high-performing environments. To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.
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